"Brian G" wrote in message
...
As TV diagnostics/repairs are a complete mystery to me, I wonder if anyone
here could throw some light on the following problem please?

Here in the UK, I have a Phillips 28" Flat Screen TV that's about four
years
old and has suddenly 'lost' its picture once a week for the last four
weeks.
When this happens, there is no way that I can get the TV to switch into
'normal' viewing mode.

The symptoms a

1 - Whilst the TV is on, it will suddenly emit a loud cracking noise and
the
screen will go blank.

2 - After the picture has gone, the TV Power On light stays lit as if the
picture was operating normally.

3 - The buttons on the remote control handset will not work the TV -
(batteries are ok).

4 - The picture cannot be turned on using the manual controls built into
the
top of the set.

5 - Switching the power off and leaving it off for up to an hour and then
turning it back on will not get the TV to work normally - Power On light
stays as described above.

6 -The TV will work normally the following morning if left switched off
overnight and then turned on.


Could be CRT flashover, or the EHT arcing to ground, either from the line
output transformer to chassis or anode cap to aquadag or chassis. CRT
flashover is potentially fatal to the tube (and possibly incurable), the
latter is at best a major inconvenience and at worst can cause damage to
components, but it may be repairable.

The problem is the age of the set, at 4 years old I wouldn't spend too much
money on a repair as a new 28" TV can be had for fairly little money here in
the UK.

If you plan on getting an estimate, DO NOT operate the set at all- not for a
moment! Take it to a reputable TV repair shop and get it sorted.

Dave